Risk stratification in patients undergoing interventional left atrial appendage occlusion-Prognostic impact of EuroSCORE II.

Background: Interventional closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is an alternative option to stroke prophylaxis, particularly in multimorbid patients with a high risk of bleeding under oral anticoagulation. Due to the multiple comorbidities, the prognosis of patients is reduced, and the clinical benefit of the procedure is therefore questionable in the individual patient.

Hypothesis: The present study aims to identify independent preprocedural risk factors to improve risk stratification in these highly selected patients.

Hemodynamics of paradoxical severe aortic stenosis: insight from a pressure-volume loop analysis.

Background: Controversy exists about the pathophysiology of different hemodynamic subgroups of AS. In particular, the mechanism of the paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient (PLFLG) AS with preserved ejection fraction (EF) is unclear.

Methods: A total of 41 patients with severe, symptomatic AS were divided into the following 4 subgroups based on the echocardiographically determined hemodynamics: (1) normal-flow, high-gradient (NFHG) AS; (2) low-flow, high-gradient AS; (3) paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient (PLFLG) AS with preserved EF and (4) low-flow, low-gradient (LFLG) AS with reduced EF.